Automobile tractor attachment.



'5. c. FAUST. AUTOMOBILE TRACTOR ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29, 1918.

APatented Jn. 21, 1919.

IIIIIIIII/ EARL C. FAUST, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMOBILE TRACTOR ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Application led Aiir129, 1918. Serial 110.231,39?

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL C. FAUs'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit,

. in the county of Wayne, State of Michigan,

' caterpillar type can be readily applied to an automobile, thereby converting the same into a powerful tractor. I

Further objects of the. invention are t0 provide a tractor attachment of this character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be readily applied to an automobile or removed therefrom, and which provides a rigid support for the rear axle of the automoblie, thereby relieving the axle of any .possible abnormal strain.

invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tractor attachment constructed in 'accordance with the invention, fragmentary portions of therear end of an automobile to which it is applied being indicated'by dotted lines.

'Fig 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the tractor attachment, showing portions of the rear axle of the automobile to which the attachment is applied.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the tractor attachment and the rear axle of the automobile.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged end view of the toothed sleeve which is-utilized for driving the endless tread.

Fig. 5 is Ian enlarged' vertical sectional view through the cross bar of the attachment and the vehicle axle, showing one of th forked props for supporting the vehicle ax e.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated 1n all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters. The attachment includes two caterpillar tractor units A which are identical in construction, one of the units being arranged upon each side of the' automobile and each unit being driven from the axle of the automobile by means of an extension applied to the axle. The units A each include a pair of spaced vertical side frames 1 which have the drums 2 journaled between opposite ends thereof, said drums being mounted upon axles 3 which connect the side frames 1 and are shown as capped by the nuts 1. The endless and jointed tread 5 extends around the two drums 2, the outer surface of the tread being formedlwith transverse ribs 6 which act as mud hooksto insure proper traction, while the inner surface of the rtread is provided with two rows of teeth 7. The drums 2 are formed with peripheral channels 8 which receive the teeth 7 and coperate with the teeth to prevent lateral displacement of the endless tread upon the drums.

The -lower reach of the endless tread 5 stretches horizontally between the lower sides of the drums 2 and operates in the wellknown manner to engage the ground over which the tractor is traveling, obtaining an extended bearing surface thereon which enables a heavy weight to be supported and at the same time insures sufficient traction being obtained to move the superposed load. This lower reach of the endlessvtreadumay be engaged at the top thereof by rollers 9, said rollers being journaled between. downward extensions 1n of the side frames 1, and being grooved at 9 to provide a clearance space for the teeth 7 of the endless tread. These rollers 9 provide a firm backing for the lower reach of the endless'tread,.and hold 'the same in a firm engagement with the ground or surface over which the tractor is traveling.

The teeth 7 projecting from the upper reach of the endless tread 5 are engaged by the two peripheral rows of teeth 10 upon a drive sleeve 11, the extremities of the sleeve being formed with reduced portions which are journaled within bearings 12 provided the drive wheels which are removed from` the axle when the tractor attachment is applied to the vehicle. A conventional automobile axle is indicated at B, and the extensions 14 are substituted for the regular drive wheels, said extensions being provided with brake drums 16 which are engaged by the regularbrake bands, thereby enabling the brake mechanism of the vehicle to be used in connection with the tractor.

`The use of the axle extensions 14 and spindles 13 enables the units A4 of the tractor attachment to be positioned suliciently far on each side of the vehicle as not to interfere in any manner with the rear mud guards and running boards. the two units A of the attachment and extends under the automobile axle B, being provided with upwardly extending forked props 18 Awhich engage the axle B of the automobile, thereby transmitting all of the load from the axle to the cross beam and ref lieving the axle of any possible excessive or abnormal strain when the tractor att-achment is in use. The ends of the crossbeam 17 are firmly connected to the tractor units A, being shownv in the present instanceV as extending across the upper edges of the side frames A, and as provided with'a series of notches 19, any selected set of whichl can be brought into an interlocking connection with the edges of the sideirames. The tractor units A thus have a limited adjustment toward and away from the side ofthe vehicle to which the'attaohment .is applied. Locking plates 20 are provided Afor holding the ends of the beam 17in an interlocking engagement with the side frames l of the units. l These plat are perforated at their upper ends to receive the cross beam` while the lower ends thereof are flanged at/ZOa to fit under the 4lower edges of the side frames. Suitable fastening members such as the bolts 21 hold the locking plates in an adjusted pomobileto be used in sitio'n, and. it will be obvious that when the locking plates are in position the units A of the attachment will be held in a firm engagementy with the cross Ibeam 17. The device can be readily applled to an automobile as an. attachment, thereby enabling the autoplaces where a powerful A cross beam 17 connects' l supporting means on 'porting means on the cross beam Lacasse receives the load from the automobile axle B and transfers the same to the two tractor units A, and as has been previously eX- plained, this construction avoids the possibility of an excessive strain being placed upon the axle, even though a heavy load may be carried.

Having thus described the invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A tractor attachment for automobiles, I

including` a frame, a pair of drums 4journalcd upon the framea jointed endless treadV extending around the drums and provided upon its inner face `with a plurality of sets of teeth, rollers iournaled 4upon the frame and engaging the lower reach of the tread.

to hold it in operative position, the rollers and drums being grooved toreceive the teeth of the tread and the grooved portions coA- operating withy the teeth to hold4 the tread against lateral displacement, a toothed driving sleeve journaled on the frame and meshing with the teeth of the upper reach of the tread, and a driving connection between the sleeve and the automobile axle.

2. A tractor attachment for automobiles, including a pair of units each formed with side plates, a drivingconnection between the i said units and the automobile axle, a cross beam extending under the automobile axle and having the ends thereofnotched to interlock with the side plates of the units, and

the cross beam for engaging the automobile axle.

A tractorl attachment for automobiles, including a pair of units each formed with side plates, a driving connection between the said units bean'r extending under the automobile axle and having the ends thereofnotched to interlock with the side plates, locking plates secured to the side plates and engaging the cross beams to hold it in position, and supfor engaging the axle of the automobile. f

AIn testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

^ l EAR-L C. FAUST.

'Vi/witnesses D. L. ANDERSON, A. C. CORRELL.

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